Manufacture of dry cells



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Dec. 8 1925.

HAROLD DE OLANETA, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO; WINCHESTER Patented Dec. 8, 192 5.

UNITEDOISTA'T BEPEATIN G 'ARMS. COMPANY,' OI NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 01' ECTICUT.

mus-Across or may CELLS. v 7

Application filed Kay 7, 1920. serial in. 379,514.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAROLD on Qu lters, a citizen of the United States, residing in New Haven, New Haven County, Gonnec-= 'ticut, have .invented certain new and useful Improvements in the. Manufacture of Dry Cells, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention'relates to dry cells, and is particularly applicable to dry cells of the pocket or minlature type, such as commonly lights, although the inventionis notneces i is . .in part of my-application, Serial No. 370,610

employed in connection with pocketflashsarily limited in this respect The present application is a continuation filed April 1st, 1920, and pertains more especially to the method of assembling a 'dry cell having one or more thin paper .washers surrounding the carbon electrodeand surmounted by a pitch seal.

One of 'the primary objects of the invention is to provide a simple, convenient and economical method of assemblage of the several parts of the cell. y Another object of the invention is'to :fur

:nish an improved method of assembling the -cell parts in cases where a centering device I so is used in. the lower end of the zinc cup for centering the depolarizin cartrid e therein, ';.there being an electrolytic paste interposed between the sidesurface of t e cartridge and the inner surface of the side wall of the cup, and a paper-washer at the top of the cartrid ebeneath the pitch seal. To t ese and otherends the invention consists in the novel features and steps and ,tamped about the carbon and procedure to be hereinafter described and T claimed. 40 a vertical centra section of a'flash-lig t dry 4 cell, made in accordance with the invention,

In the accord anying drawing, Fi 1 is Fig. 2 is a section on a smaller scale, showj' ing the first step'inthe operation, and Figs.

3 and 4 are sectional views showing later stages of the operation of assembling. r

In Fig; 1 of the drawing, I have shown a form of dry cell, in the assemblage of which my new method may be employed to ad-- vantage. The zinc cup 10,- constituting one electrode, containsa carbon pencil 11, which serves as the other electrode, and such other electrode carries a depolarizing cartridge 12, consisting of suitable depolariziighmaterial eringto receptacle.

washer 17. visp'referably provided 'withthe usual brass i the same. The'cartridge is preferably con-' In the bottom ,of 'jthd'zinc cup is a centering disk 15 of parafiined -pa er, or the like, whlch centers thecartrld in the cup or Overlying the cartridge 12 and abutting the upper surface thereof is a washer. 16 of paraflined a. er, having an" openin whereby it is fittedhtli 17, also of paraflined aper. The washer 17 isof cupped form, aving a downwardly surface of the cartridge and. I

out the carbon M Q electr e. Above the washer'lfi is a washer] bulged centralportion so as to provide a" deep pocket near the vide also a peripheral chamber or space'19 center of the cell for i" 'the sealing mater1al..1 8, and so as to profor, the accommodation of gas generated in. i

the cell. The sealing material 18 consists of pitch, or the like, which, while in molten condition, is poured into the upper portion of the zinc cup ontop of the upper 'paper The top of the carbon electrode contact cap 20. 4 t

The paste 14 is usually fairly'stifi. In practice, it will contain,;for example, a certain amount of wheat fiour,-or other cereal, and a chlorid solution; and by preference also, it contains a certain quantity of an amal amating compound such as mercuric chlorid, for example. Preferably the aste is cooked before being used, thefiour, ch orid solution, and mercury compound being all mixed together with water and heated while the mass is being stirred. v

In assembling the cell, a measured quantity of the paste is first placed in the bottom of the cuplO, so as to fill the same up to a certain level, as shown in Fig. 2. The carbon electrode 11, carrying the cartridge 12, has the centering disk 15 applied to the lower end of the same and the two elements, that is to say, the cartridge and the bottom centering disk, are then drop ed into the zinc cupso as to rest on top 0 the paste. The thin ,paper washer 16 is then placed on the upper end of the pro'ecting carbon pencil,

which extends throng the central opening in the washer. The cartridge is next for into the paste to such extent that the paper washer 16 enters the mouth of the zinc cup to? a certain extent, as shown for example in: Fig; 3.. This operation" may be performed manually, in a very convenient way, as it ismerely necessary for theoperative toplace 53 his or her'fingeron the upperrend-v of the ear honz pencilfand give it. a: slight downward'l ush; This is for the: purposeof? introduclng the 7 paper washer into: the mouth: of the zinc cup and in carrying out the? operationiv the paste will: be-somewhat' displaced, caus:--

in a. portionof the same: to" How along" the" si e of thetart'rid'ge past the: bottom: centering washerto. an". extent such as indicated,

, sure membersof the kind shown? in Figs; 3' and 4. It hasbeene foundconvenient toprovide the presswith a die-bed 21;,havi'ng a: pedestal 22 of cylindrical shape, adapted to positionthe cartridge, and: to equip the press a It is desirable to subject the lower end of the for'example, in Fig; 32

The assemblage having been carried out.

manually to the extent" indicated, it is: next preferable,jalthoughnot essential, to complete the: operation of locating 'the cartridge: 1n the zinc cup by suhjecting the parts to pressure in a suitable machine, such as a light press. In the preferred practice the partially assembled cell is inverted and;

placed. in a press havingco-operating preswith a plunger member 23, adapted to press down on the zinc cupwhile-the cartridge I member of the cell is: fixedly held. by thepede'stal 22; The diameter 7 of the upper cylindrical part of the pedestal 22 is approximately equal tothe innerv diameter of the pine cup, so that it will fit nicely within. said cup, and the upper portion of the; pedestal 22 is. also provided: with a central cylindrical recess 24, adapted to receive the projecting. end of the carbon pencil, preferably with acertainamount of clearance.

' cartridge to pressure, but to relieve theprov pressure or strain same to break.

jecting end of the: carbon pencil from any which might cause the When the partially assembled cell has been placed in the press; as" shown in Fig. 3, the'upper'endof the-pedestal- 22 will enter the mout of the; zinc cup to aslight extent,

its upper face being in contact with the opposing face of the paper washer 16. The

plunger 23 is then caused'to make contact withthebottom ofthe inverted zinc cup and is moveddownward. from the positionshown in Fig; 3 to that shown in. Fig. 4'. The

downward movement of the plunger causes. the paste to be' flowed over the centering. washer 15 downwardly into the space atthe troduced into the cup'issuch-i that when; the

nuqeu upper'end'of the inverted' zinc cup is brou htv against the centering washer 15,, the side: spacewithin'thezinc cup will be neatly filled by the paste without overflowing. In the operation" ofassembling, the lowermost portion' of" the paste strikes the upper surface: of the paper washer 16,-. which. serves as: a stop for the paste and causes the same. to beidist'ribu'tedlaterally until, at the comple'-- tion. of the relative approaching movement between themembers 22 and 23, theside surface of the cartridgeis covered by a uniform layer of? paste; 1 As theplunger 23 moves from the position shown in Fig. 3, to that shown in Fig. 4, the-cup 10"'s moved downwardly hile being centered. on the pedestal 22, the inner surfaoeof'the mouth portion of the cup slidingf over the cylindrical surface of the pedestal. As previously stated, the lower end of the carbon pencil doesnot make contact with the pedestal, the recess 24 affording clearance in all directions. When the assembling is complete, the cell can be readily slippedv oii" of'the pedestal after the plunger has been raised.

Afterthe operation just described,the cell isit'aken out of the-press and the paper washer 17 is introducedlinto the upper 'end of the cup. The sealing material .18 is then poured'into the zinc cup on top of the .washer 17 .and allowed tocool and. set. The brass contact cap 20 is usually applied to the upper end of'the carbon before the sealing material is poured in place.

It will be understood that I do not claim herein any features of .the cell per se, and that I do not claim broadly herein the method of making a dry cell having acontainingcup, a cartridge and a closure for the upper end portion ofthe cup, which comprises introducing a measured quantity of paste into the lower end of the cup and then squeezing the cartridge into the paste while the end closure is located against the upper end of the cartridge, whereby said end closure serves as a. stop for the paste, as claimed in my application, Serial No. 370,610. Certain.

features in connection with the machine for assembling -the cell are claimed in a co-pend ing application, Serial No. 382,471 no claim being made herein to the apparatus.

The member 22, which lies beneath the insulating washer 16, and" with which the zinc cup makes contact in the assembling of the cell, is preferably made of hard rubber or'like insulating material to prevent'short circuiting.

What I] claim is:

1. The method of making a dry cell ing a containing cup, a cartridge, and a flexible washer positioned, above the cartridge, which comprises introducing a measured quantity of paste into the bottom of the cup, then squeezing the cartridge into hav- I the paste, and utilizing the flexible washer .to arrest the displacement ofthe' paste,by

- then which acts as an abutment to hold comprises introducing a 1 tering 34; The method of positioning such washer a end of the cartridge whi operation takes place.

. 2. The method of making a dry cell, which ainst the upper e the squeezing comprises introducing a measured quantity of paste into the bottom' of a depositing in the cup, on top zinc cup, then .a'cartridge having an upwardly projecting electrode, aboutthe electrode ontop of the cartridge, lacing. the paper Washer against -a suitab e abutment, and exerting pressure on the zinc cup to flow the paste into. the space at-the side of the cartridge, and relieving the j'i'rojecting end of the carbon electrode from ,pressureduring displacement of the paste.

3. The method of making a dry cell, which then ucing a cartridge into the paste, and

a containing cup, then then forcing the containing cup over a centering member independent of the cartridge, the cartridge stationary.

5. The method of making a dry cell, which quantity of paste into the bottom of a zinc cup, then introducing a cartridge having an upwardly project,

ing electrode into the cup and then sliding the cup over a pedestal, which acts as an abutment for the cartridge, the projecting end of the pressure. I I

6. The method herein described, which comprises positioning a cartridge with a protruding pencil against a projecting centering member, placing a washer about the protruding portion of the pencil, and then while relieving electrode from sliding a containing cup over such centering member, while relieving the protruding end of the pencil from movement of the cup.

7 The method of making a dry cell having a containing cup, iblewasher positioned above the cartridge, which comprises introducing into-the bottom of the cup the exact quantity of paste which is to be used in the cell and then squeezing the cartridge into the paste so that the latter flows into place at; the side of of the paste, 1

placing a .thin paper washer;-

Y of paste into'the bottom upwardly projecting pencil, which comprises ing a containing cup,

pressure during the a cartridge and a flexthe cartridge,and arrests the outward move- 00 ment of the paste. i

8. Thermethod of making a dry cellhavinga containing cup, .a cartridgeand a He!- ible washer above the cartridge, which comprises introducing into the bottom of the on i all :the paste which is to be used in the celfi and then squeezing the cartridgeinto the i paste while the. washer is held in position I relatively to the cartridge.

' 9. The method of making'a' dry cell hav- 7 ing a containing cup, ;a cartridge and a flexible'-washer above the cartrid which comprises introducing a measure quantity of the cup, and then squeezing the. cartridge into the paste so that the latter is ,flowed along the side of the cartridge, until it reaches the washer and its movement isthereby arrested.

10. The method of making a drycellhaving a containing cup, a cartridge having an upwardly projecting washeraround the pencil above the cartridge which comprises introducing a quan- 7' .tity o paste into the bottom of the cup, and then pressing the parts together while relieving the projecting end of the cartridge; pencil from pressur 11. The method of making a dry cell hav ing a cup and a cartridge therein with an positioning the cartridge against an abutment with theprojecting end of the pencil free from contact with such abutment, placing a washer around the projecting end of the pencil and subjecting the cup and cartridge to pressure for bringing them into assembled relation. i

" 2. The method of making a dry. cell hava cartridge therein,

with an upwardly projecting pencil, a centering disk in the cup beneath the cartridge and a flexible washer positioned about the pencil above thecartridge which comprises introducing into the bottom of the cup the total quantity of paste to be used in the cell,- placing the centeringdisk and cartridge in the cup on top of the paste, placing'the washer around the pencil, then subjecting the parts to ressure for displacing the paste from ,beneat the centeringdisk to a position alongside .the cartridge, relieving the projecting end of the pencil from pressure during: the pressing operation, and-"then suitably closing the u per end of the com" In Witness whereo I have hereunto setpencil and a flexible specificatlon;requiring-correction as fallowgz v i1 gxe' 3', line 60' an 61; 01ajm'7 t ik out, the cdmma andlphrase f5, andl-arre'sts; the-outward movement 6f t'he'past'e";.;'

same .pagefiiline" 69y lain1 8, changthefperiod after the; word f cartridge toja' comma ,andins'ert the Iphraseand arrests the outwmrdmpvgment of the t p nda; that the said Letter's at ent ShOfiId be -iearl withhthese-correction the i th th same may vconform to the'recbrd of. the' case'iflth P t 05 ,llj'signed-andisealed th s19thday;df-J m i'yki B 1926. 

